So excited! Sara Beth Russert (of Mighty O Donuts Food Network Champ fame) is doing a raw desserts class at my local WF this Saturday night. Signed up to take it - hoping enough others signed up so it doesn't get cancelled.

If something has 0g of sugar I dont bother to check, of course. If it does have an amount of sugar in it I check to see if its added or not, if it isn't I still eat it. Thats what everyone is doing, right? I do still allow myself to eat something so as to not deprive myself too much. just to give an idea Ive had: junior mints(toooo sweet and made my stomach and head hurt), smoothie(it prob had added sugar drank maybe 8oz) Maffers' cookie, and this frozen pizza dough I bought that has 1g of added sugar a serving ( I had that two different times)

Alec Baldwin has appeared noticeably trimmer during appearances of late and the "30 Rock" star says the key to dropping the excess pounds is a bit bittersweet. "I gave up sugar. I lost 30 pounds in four months,"

_________________My oven is bigger on the inside, and it produces lots of wibbly wobbly, cake wakey... stuff. - The PoopieB.

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:20 pmPosts: 1093Location: Land of the First Kaiju

My plan is to do this again starting in February (with the exception of the 3rd, which is my boyfriend's birthday). This includes alcohol. I remember feeling really, really great the last time I did it. Trying to cut back a little more now, so it's less painful when I do it for real. Onward!

I want to kill my sugar addiction, but it's hardcore. I'm not stupid; I know the risks of eating too much sugar and the benefits of kicking it. That being said, in practice, it's next to impossible. Has anyone gradually weaned themselves off of processed sugar or does it have to be "cold turkey" to be successful? I hope I can do this, but it seems so daunting right now...

I want to kill my sugar addiction, but it's hardcore. I'm not stupid; I know the risks of eating too much sugar and the benefits of kicking it. That being said, in practice, it's next to impossible. Has anyone gradually weaned themselves off of processed sugar or does it have to be "cold turkey" to be successful? I hope I can do this, but it seems so daunting right now...

You can do it! I, personally, like to go cold turkey. I find that if I "wean" what I really do is have a small amount, and then just have more by rationalizing that I've already had some. If you're like that, go cold turkey. Otherwise, weaning yourself off it should be fine.

_________________Real vegans eat nothing but organic, grass-fed grass. - FootFaceI avoid protein on principle. - IsaChandraI used to dress up like Wonder Woman but I didn't grow up to an Amazon Princess who dabbles in bondage and flys an invisible jet. -idatetattoedguys

I'd like to report success...taste buds are officially reset to old standards and fruit and dark chocolate are the best things ever! It took about three weeks total but it was well worth it, my skin is already thanking me :)

Congrats on the success, mel b! Fruit and dark chocolate really are wonderful when you can taste the subtle sweetness in them.

ScooterDiva, would you mind sharing the recipes from your raw desserts class? You don't have to share actual recipes, but just what you guys made. I'm always looking for more inspiration.

nemesis, I think weaning yourself off slowly could work, but only if you don't have the mindset of "I already ate some, so no damage in eating more". For me, the first time I did no-sugar, I had to go cold turkey because when I tried doing it slowly, I found myself always saying I would start again the next day which really got me nowhere. Now I can say that I'll eat something sweet only on Mondays and not feel deprived the rest of the week since I know I can have some on Monday, not I'm never going to eat sweets again, so I'm going to over-do it today. Good luck!

_________________"I would love to be president of the United States. It's been my dream ever since I discovered what power was." ~ RandiJM, age 11-ish

Ive been eating sugar more lately, but no where near as much as I was (pms). Im doing really well with not beating myself up about things and taking things one day at a time. I just had something sweet and it wasnt that great(i ate it anyway). I just realized peanut chews are probably in the candy store across from the store I work in (I work in the mall) Ive never had them so I buying one if there are, so....

Salt to a certain extent is necessary-that being said, I generally avoid high sodium content foods and cook with very little salt (but definitely some)

This is definitely more what I meant! I love salt, too, but I am unintentionally eating more of it than I want to in prepackaged vegan foods 'n stuff! I want to cut back, is all. Maybe I'll make some gomashio. And shut up.

I could definitely do with a low salt thread. I have always loved it but it is getting ridiclous now. Sometimes my mouth hurts because I over salt certain things so much. I know about adding herbs and spices and all that shiitake but none of them taste like salt.

I've been back on low sugar for 9 days now and feel great. I use truvia and liquid stevia when I want to add a bit of sweetness to foods or tea, and eat fruits that are lower in sugar, like berries. I'm also staying away from bread and rice for now because they tend to make me crave more carby foods. I don't expect to eat this way forever but it is helping me retrain my taste buds to enjoy more vegetables.

_________________Again, you are all brilliant and sexy. And I am lavender-laden and secure in my masculinity. - Sir Brancis Facon

I've been sugar-free since Sunday before last (3/18). Its great to cut it out, but I did find myself fantasizing about donuts the other day. My almost sugar treat is a banana with almond butter. 12 days down, 9 days to go before I get to 21, at which point it becomes easier, right?

_________________My oven is bigger on the inside, and it produces lots of wibbly wobbly, cake wakey... stuff. - The PoopieB.

Congrats on being sugar free for 2 weeks now, Tofulish! It does get easier, and I've found that sometimes a date or two will satisfy my cravings whereas before, it wouldn't have done anything except make me want more sugar. And bananas w/almond butter is one of my favorite snacks.

_________________"I would love to be president of the United States. It's been my dream ever since I discovered what power was." ~ RandiJM, age 11-ish